Travellers on the Bengaluru-Mysuru highway can soon stop by at the sericulture museum that will be set up at Channapatna to catch a glimpse of the activities carried out by the sericulture industry.
Making an announcement in the State Budget 2018-19 presented on Saturday, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said the Sericulture Department is proposing to develop Seri-Tourism or Sericulture Tourism on the Bengaluru-Mysuru corridor in collaboration with the Central Silk Board.
“An international-level live museum will be established in the sericulture area of Channapatna,” Mr. Siddaramaiah said.
Suman Singh, Additional Director of Sericulture Department, Government of Karnataka, said the department was planning to establish a museum, which showcases all the activities of sericulture starting from cultivation of mulberry plantation to rearing of silkworms to weaving of fabrics.
Sericulture holds a lot of fascination to tourists. “We see a lot of tourists, particularly foreigners, stopping at the Cocoon Market in Ramanagaram out of curiosity. Even though nobody is around to inform them about cocoons and their utility, they ask around,” said Munshi Basaiah, Deputy Director of Sericulture, Ramanagaram.
The idea is to set up kiosks, which showcase all the activities of sericulture industry including rearing of silkworms, reeling of silk and weaving of fabric.
Mr. Siddaramaiah said the government will also set up a ‘silk museum’ at Talghattapura’s Karnataka State Silk Research and Development Institute. This silk museum will, however, be research-oriented aimed at helping farmers gain knowledge about advances in silk technology.
Tribals to rear cocoons
The government has proposed to promote farming of bivoltine silk by Soliga tribals living in Biligiri Ranga (B.R.) Hills area.
About 40 acres of land is available with the Sericulture Department and sub-centre of State Silk Research and Development Centre at B.R. Hills area. A silkworm farming shed will also be set up for the benefit of Soliga tribals. Bivoltine is a superior quality cocoon and the proposal will help improve the economic status of Soliga tribals, Mr. Siddaramaiah said. A total of ₹457 crore has been earmarked for sericulture in 2018-19.
